Hand chopping case: ATC issues warrants for 16-year-old

Sixteen-year-old Anwar mistakenly raised his hand during a sermon in a local mosque

LAHORE: In view of his continued absence from proceedings, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for a boy, who, on January 11, chopped off his hand in a rural area of northwest Punjab following a public accusation of blasphemy.

Sixteen-year-old Anwar mistakenly raised his hand when the prayer leader of a local mosque, Shabbir Ahmad, asked during a sermon as to who did not love Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him).

The boy, whose mistake was termed as an act of blasphemy by the cleric, rushed to his house in a state of emotional turmoil, cut down his hand and sent it in a plate to the cleric. Later, Hujra Shah Muqeem police registered a case against the cleric under section 324 PPC and 7ATA and arrested the accused.

The court on March 10 framed charges against the cleric and summoned the prosecution witnesses.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2016.